Took this particular video with my cellphone (thus the poor quality). In this video, Mike plays with this group of kids. Hindi nakatiis si Mike nang makita nya yung mga gitara. Kaya hayun naki-jam sa mga bata. Kahit wala sa tono lahat ng instrumento, tuloy pa rin sila!  Good job mike!  Wag ka nang humingi ng abuloy…

April 3-6, ‘09. Bohol. Went for an adventure and Mike and I had a blast. Bohol is a beautiful place!  I uploaded the pictures, will make kuwento later…

^{Phil 2:5} Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Keeping an Attitude of Joy

^{Phil 1:3} I thank my God every time I remember you. ^{Phil 1:4} In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy

Being joyful is a choice. Being miserable is an option. Through the grace of God, we can choose to go through life in a stance of faith (not just positive thinking) despite the difficult & challenging realities of life.

The apostle Paul, could have wallowed in misery and regret as he wrote this letter to the Philippians. Why? He was writing this joy-filled letter while in prison! Say again???

Joy as Paul demonstrates is a condition of the heart independent of the circumstances around. When we choose to be joyful, Paul is not suggesting that we be unmindful of what is happening around. It is simply a conscious choice of finding the good in whatever bad that may be happening and finding God in it. Sounds simple enough… Hmm, but seriously (because we probably take life tooooo seriously at times), it is a little more difficult to apply.

It is hard to be joyful when times are hard (as it is now.) It is hard when we have bills to pay, deadlines to meet, mouths to feed, health to worry about, relationships that are being shaken… or when life’s comforts and luxuries that we have become accustomed to be suddenly taken away from us because of hard times. YET we can choose not to let these rob us of our joy.

I also learned from Paul by his Christlike example, one way to keep a joyful countenance… PRAYER. Prayer is a reminder that we have a God who knows, who cares and is able to meet our needs. Dwelling upon these truths relieves me of those anxieties. Prayer is like an antidote way better than any anti-depressant or relaxant that you can find. Prayer is more soothing than a relaxing coffee from Starbucks or a Chai latte from Coffee Bean (I might grab one today anyway, hehe).

I guess I will do just that now. Let me pray….”Today Lord, help me keep that joy in my heart. I pray that you cleanse my heart from anxieties and emotions that replace joy. I pray that my mind be purified from thoughts that drive away peace and trust in you. I want to be Christlike and I pray to be joyful. May your joy be in the hearts of my loved ones and friends. May we all realize that true joy is not found in what this world can provide. Only YOU Lord can grant that unexplainable peace in our hearts and unwavering sense of joy within.”

Boracay was great! Mike , Bjay & Jimbo went with me to Baracay! Sandra & Aafka also joined us in this lovely

Watched Southborder live sometime ago. I became a fan.  Galing!  Watching them makes me want to be better at what I do, especially that which I do for the Lord. Thanks mike for taking this video! If you want to see some of the other videos check out soapbox.

Southborder Ikaw Lang

  
Video: Southborder Ikaw Lang

Who would have thought that we could come up with an album?  How in the world did we come up with such songs?  Well, we didn't... God did. God I believed inspired us to pen those songs. It is all God's doing!

All the songs in the album are testimonies, expressions of our longings, our desires, our praises and prayers to God.  Just as the songs were not forcefully written for the sake of composing a song, the album also followed the same route.  We took our time, or should I say, God took his time and when everything was finally ready, He released it. How many times did we have to reset the launching again?!!! I could not remember. I have learned in the process just to trust God, leave everything up to Him and wait for his perfect timing. And I believed last Sunday that it was God's perfect timing.

God's timing was perfect for He made sure Onard did not have a commitment that Sunday. He did not give Onard a commitment that evening to play somewhere else!  (Should I be thanking the Lord that Onard did not have work that night?...Hehehe. Yeah I thank God!).  God's timing was perfect for we never thought that Clang could join us. She was supposed to be in China!

God did more in the events preceding the launch. He provided abundantly (we had no resources to produce an album BUT GOD HAS!!!), made sure that no one got sick (though there were some of us who appeared like they were gonna be sick but hey, God did not let that happen! 

That is why the production and the launching of the album are in itself a work of God. The album itself testifies to God's power, grace, lovingkindness, patience, faithfulness, mercy, holiness, protection and love. So I pray for the Lord to just have His way and continue anointing the album and making himself known through the songs contained therein.

But let me thank a number of people who played key parts in the album.

Onard, you are a blessing, a gift from the Lord. Thanks for your patience, your vision and your commitment to pull this through. You single handedly oversaw the recording and post prod. You were truly dependable and trustworthy. God bless you Onard!

Mike, your songs are great, powerful and inspiring. Thanks for sharing them with me and allowing me to somehow be a part of it. Keep on worshipping and singing for the Lord. Guard your heart always my friend, for it is the wellspring of life... and beautiful songs!  I couldn't wait for more of God's songs birthed from your heart.

Bry, I think I forgot to acknowledge your beautiful cd album cover!  Praise God for your creativity!

The entire worship team, band, singers, tech guys!  YOU ARE ALL A BLESSING AND I LOVE YOU ALL! May God continue to fill us with His Spirit, always living a baptized life. May we be bound by His love, His peace, His lordship and His holiness. May we truly be a worshipping team. God bless us all!

To the Faith Fellowship Church, fellow pastors and members! I love worshipping the Lord with you. I am blessed to be a part of Faith Fellowship.

Listen to our first ever Worship Team album. Watch our album launch on May 4, 5pm at Faith Fellowship- aurora!   

Album Launch teaser

  
Video: Album Launch teaser

A few months back, I already started noticing that my mother was degenerating both physically and mentally. She's 82 and I thought such was understandably so. I thought I knew enough and was prepared enough for what was inevitable.

But I was not.  I was not ready for that first time when she would no longer recognize me as her own son. I was not ready to see her suffer and cry whenever she would try to recall things, persons and events but just could not. I was not ready to see her bedridden all the time in diapers. I was not ready to see her unable to stand up, sit up, eat food by herself, or do the things that she would normally do on her own.

I thought I was ready, but I was not. At first, every moment when I would be reminded of my mom just brought me to tears. It took time before I understood a little about her situation. I downloaded a number of articles in the internet to understand her situation. It took time before I was able to get a hold of my emotions and fears. It took time before I was able to cope a little bit.

I have come to realize that it is quite hard for me to see someone who I have always thought as strong, and had always been a source of strength and inspiration to be on that weak side of the equation. I guess, it is always hard, when the ones we hold dear and close to our hearts go through suffering.

But as God always did, He brought comfort through his Word, and more so through His children. The promises of God that shall never be broken that bring me hope and joy are a great source of encouragement.  The friends who showed compassion with their words, but I appreciated greatly those friends, who actually did not say a thing but were just there, they were a great source of encouragement! Praise God!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (2Co 1:3-4)

The Lord has a way to see if we are applying the truth of His word in our lives. When He allows us to experience His word in our lives, that simply means GOD IS SPEAKING!

Well, these past months I have been going through 1 Peter alongside 1 Kings, odd huh? Now one of the things that stood out in 1 Peter is his teaching about suffering..., undeserved but righteous suffering. I am amazed at the way Peter has verses connected to each other (though I don't know how much thought he had put into writing this letter or was it extemporaneous anointed thoughts?). It could only mean, they must be surely from God.

You see, last Sunday after putting my cellphone number at the bulletin for an announcement that I had to make, I received a very scathing anonymous text message that sharply criticized the way I lead worship and the way I sing; the worship team, the way we play, the sounds we produce and so on. In a nutshell, I was being told how bad we all are!

It was a very hurtful text indeed! I received it just before I was to lead worship for the 5pm service. At first, I was at a loss for words as to how I should react to the text. Then slowly, I started having mixed emotions and thoughts. Should I respond? Should I validate the person's comments? I wanted to know who the person is, but after much thought, what for? After wrestling for a few minutes before the service, I just decided to delete the text message. Looking back, I realized it was a very wise decision.

I was affected and I was wondering how I would be leading worship at the 5pm service. But by the grace of God the worship singing seemed to have gone well. I thought to myself, Lord it's all in your hands now. I am going to worship you, and I will do this for you not for anybody else.

Furthermore doing the week, I was checked by the words of 1 Peter. God checked my heart and He wanted to put my heart into order as to how I should respond to the matter. God was kinda matter-of-factly telling me what to do. Here's what God spoke to me through His word.

1Pe 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1Pe 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

1Pe 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1Pe 2:22 “He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 1Pe 2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

NOW HERE'S THE KICKER...

1Pe 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

1Pe 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

1Pe 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1Pe 3:16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1Pe 3:17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Need I say more?

To anyone who probably feels unjustly treated, look to Jesus!

Last Saturday, January 5, 2008, I was thinking of what to share to the Worship Team before beginning our rehearsals. I was led to one of the passages that I read in my previous devotional. It was with the intent that I wanted to speak to them the truth of the word only to be stung myself by the message of the verse.

(1Pe 1:13) Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

There is a path to 2008. That path is that which God has already prepared for us. It is a path however, that we are left to choose to follow or not. Unfortunately, this path prepared for us by God is a road not many are willing to trod. It is the narrow road, the higher way, the road less traveled. But those who choose to stay in the path realize in the end that it is worth staying in God's intended course.

In order to finish the path for 2008, I was reminded as the Apostle Peter writes, to prepare my mind for action.

The exhortation of Peter has been one of the greatest and simplest teachings that have survived through the ages and one that most counselors, psychologists, teachers even teach today. You begin with the mind. What we reap in this world is often what we sowed in our minds.

We begin our preparations in our mind. We begin by envisioning things in our mind. If we want to live godly lives, we have to train our minds and our thoughts to be godly. We have to take our thoughts captive to the will of God. (2Co 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.) And to continue in the process of being transformed, we have to allow God to transform our minds daily.

Let's be honest for a moment here. Isn't it so amazing that we do a lot of things without having actually thought through them? How many times have we said things, done something, reacted or responded and regretted our actions later because we had done so in haste and had not thought through them? Is there anyone who would raise their hands and say, "guilty!" So before 2008 becomes a waste, let us put in to great and careful use the great faculty that is our mind.

WE DO ALL THE PREPARATIONS FIRST AND FOREMOST IN OUR MIND. As we look forward to 2008 and what is in store and what we are called to do, why don't we take time out to pause, meditate, pray to God and think of what He wants us to do? Before we even start jumping into a number of things and end up accomplishing nothing, let us prepare our minds.

WE SHOULD PREPARE OUR MINDS…. FOR ACTION.

To what end is our "mindly" preparations for? FOR ACTION! Whatever God has revealed to us must be put into practice. Whatever we have conceived and decided on to do, we must exert all effort possible into fulfilling them. I believe that in here, we are to put feet into our vision. What action, what steps will you now do?

There is a strange reality that exists when we conceptualize things on our minds. We sometimes consume so much on meditating and end up doing nothing or having no action at all. Take for instance prayer. Sometimes we cannot pray because our minds have been so consumed with meditation (a.k.a. worrying). This is the reason probably why Peter said, 1Pe 4:7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

So after conceiving with our minds, the next step is to put them into practice. This is how we are to follow the path for 2008.

I said in the beginning that I was stung with the message of the verses. Why? Because honestly, I need to put them into practice. By God's grace I will and I prayerfully do hope that at the end of the year, whatever God has revealed to my mind will have become a reality in my life. So may God bless us all as we try to follow the path of God for 2008!

Dec 27-28, the FFA Worship Team went to Zambales for an outing-retreat. We had fun and we also had some time to reflect on what we ought to focus on. These clips are some of the funny moments we had. To the worship team: I pray for God to bless you even more and may you continue to remain faithful to the Lord and His ministry!

Nanay is turning 82 this 2008. Imagine that..82! God surely is good to her! Last Christmas I thought I'd shoot some video snippets of her greeting my sisters and among other things, just having fun. Para sa mga ate ko States, this one's for you guys. 

Jn 17:4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

Oh how I wished that I could say the very  words that Jesus declared!  That I brought glory to God here on earth by completing (that is: to finish, to fully accomplish) what I was called to do.

I looked back at a year where a number of things I committed to do were unfinished. There were some which I didn't even bother to start. Others, I began with a breath of excitement and enthusiasm, but somehow lost steam. I didn't get to finish them. Thankfully, (and for this I must say "Praise the Lord!") there were some that I did manage to pull through, obviously by the grace of God alone.

It is very clear that God's will for His children is to finish and complete the race (or "marathon") marked out for them. It is just fascinating to note that when Jesus said He completed the work, He was also well aware that it would cost Him his life in the pursuit of this goal.

We are called to complete the work. But not without hindrances. Not without opposition. Not without failures even. I guess the beautiful thing about the race marked out by God for each one of us is this. He wants us to complete it no matter how many times we fall. He lifts us up and strengthens our fallen knees to cause us to run the race again. I guess this is very true; "We fail to complete the work, not when we fall. We fail to complete the race when we simply stop."

God bless us all! May we all be finishers of the race!

Classic EmTeeVee. Hindi niyo ito makikita sa record bars, o sa MTV channel. Kami lang meron nito. Salamat at pinatawa ninyo ko!

Worship Team EmTeeVee

   
Video: Worship Team EmTeeVee (click this if video doesn't load)

The worship team slippin' and slidin' during the retreat. Enjoy Mike's funny annotations. Saya namin dito!

Worship Team Retreat 2006 part 2

    
Video: Worship Team Retreat 2006 part 2 (click this if video doesn't load